Courses and Syllabi
The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes.
Art History Spring 2022
Undergraduate
Introduction to the content and principles of the visual arts. Approach varies with instructor. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Introduces themes and imagery in art. Approaches and traditions to explore vary with the instructor. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Introduces study, principle, and understanding of art of architecture. Approach varies with instructor; may be historical, geographical, technical, or thematic. Notes: Field trips required. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Major periods, monuments, and themes of Western art and architecture. Introduces Washington, D.C., museum collections and a historical framework for further study in art history. Covers prehistory, the ancient world, and the Middle Ages. Notes: Designed as a two-course sequence, but each part may be taken independently without prerequisite. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Major periods, monuments, and themes of Western art and architecture. Introduces Washington, D.C., museum collections and a historical framework for further study in art history. Covers the art of the Renaissance, the baroque period, and modern Europe and the Americas. Notes: Designed as a two-course sequence, but each part may be taken independently without prerequisite. Limited to three attempts.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
Introduces arts of Latin America from pre-Columbian to modern era. Discusses important examples of painting, sculpture, and architecture in relation to culture and history of region. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
This course covers the history of modern architecture in the Western world from the mid-19th century to the present. Introduces movements such as Art Nouveau, Futurism, Modernism, and Post-Modernism in their political, social, and cultural contexts. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Aspects of the art, archaeology, and culture of ancient Near East and Bronze Age Mediterranean. Approach varies depending on instructor; emphasis may be on Mesopotamia, Iran, Egypt, Anatolia, the Levant, or the Aegean. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Arts of the Hellenistic age within the context of history and culture of the period. Explores the powerful dynasties ruling wealthy empires; achievements in learning and literature housed in the Great Library at Alexandria; baroque sculpture adorning the Altar of Zeus at Pergamon; and Roman collectors of Greek art and antiques. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
This course studies Venetian society and culture through the visual arts. Venice was a center of maritime trade in the late medieval and early modern Europe. Situated on the northeast coast of Italy, Venice was a hub for merchants, pilgrims, diplomats, soldiers, and sailors traveling around the Mediterranean region. These encounters shaped Venice’s rich visual and material culture, which integrated features from other parts of Italy, northern Europe, the Byzantine Empire, Ottoman Turkey, North Africa, and Classical Greece and Rome into a distinctive aesthetic. In this course, we will study the major monuments (e.g., the church of San Marco and the Ducal Palace) and the celebrated artists (e.g., the Bellini family, Titian, Palladio, and Tiepolo). We will also consider other media that are often left out of art history surveys but were equally important to Venetian art, including the city’s famous glass production, luxury textile industry, print and publishing, and mosaics. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Movements from neoclassicism to symbolism discussed in relation to social, cultural, political, and technological changes in Europe. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Studies in the history of American architecture or decorative arts in cultural context. Topics range from 17th century to 20th century, depending on instructor. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Developments in visual culture and the changing status of art practitioners throughout these periods. Focus is either chronological (Colonial Period, Gilded Age) or thematic (19th-century genre scenes, the American landscape and national identity). Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Explores visual art production since 1980, drawing on regional resources. Examines social, institutional, and political issues in recent art and its markets. Notes: Requires students to work collaboratively and make several field trips, including one Saturday bus trip to New York. Specific topics and assignments vary with the changing art season and instructor. Lecture, discussion. Limited to three attempts.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
Examines various cultural and artistic traditions of ancient Southeast Asia, from the earliest archaeological evidence to onset of colonialism. Lectures and discussions focus on material culture of the great civilizations that arose within borders of modern Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Burma (Myanmar), Vietnam, Laos, and Malaysia. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Internship with a professional arts institution, organization, or individual in the Washington, D.C., area. Project to be arranged by student in consultation with faculty instructor and field supervisor. Notes: Strongly recommended for advanced art history students seeking exposure to professional work in visual arts. May be taken for 3 to 6 credits, or repeated for up to 6 credits. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Examines history, theory, practice, ethics, and current problems of collecting and displaying art and artifacts to the public. Emphasizes issues central to museums in Washington, D.C., or museums in other locations; focus varies with instructor. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
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ARTH 394 - 001: The Museum
— Jacquelyn Williamson — 04:30 PM to 07:10 PM R - Music Theater Building (formerly Fine Arts Building) 1007
Seminar-style discussions on a specific topic in Asian art. May focus on the art of a particular period, movement, reign, or region, as well as theoretical issues or works in a particular medium. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 6 credits.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Conduct hands-on research with objects and primary and secondary sources. Select particular artifacts, works of art, or group of objects and undertake original research, and bring objects from storage to publication to exhibition. Develops skills in material analysis, critical reading, and academic writing. Focuses on VA/DC/MD libraries, archives, and storerooms. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 9 credits.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Developments in visual culture and the changing status of art practitioners throughout these periods. Focus is either chronological (Colonial Period, Gilded Age) or thematic (19th-century genre scenes, the American landscape and national identity). Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Seminar-style discussions on a specific topic in Asian art. May focus on the art of a particular period, movement, reign, or region, as well as theoretical issues or works in a particular medium. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 6 credits.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Graduate
Internship with a professional arts institution, organization, or individual in the Washington, D.C., area. Project to be arranged by student in consultation with faculty instructor and field supervisor. Notes: Recommended for advanced art history students seeking exposure to professional work in visual arts. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Examines history, theory, practice, ethics, and current problems of collecting and displaying art and artifacts to the public. Emphasizes issues central to museums in Washington, D.C., or museums in other locations. Focus may vary with instructor. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
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ARTH 594 - 001: The Museum
— Jacquelyn Williamson — 04:30 PM to 07:10 PM R - Music Theater Building (formerly Fine Arts Building) 1007
Topics vary. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
Offers graduate-level survey in academic art history led by an instructor of record, with input from full Art History faculty. Participants review the current field through lectures, focused readings and group discussions with relevant faculty member. Participants may read in more depth in areas of special interest. Provides preparation for MA exams and professional preparation for teaching. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Topics vary. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
